77. (1) Whenever any person subject to this Act deserts, his commanding officer shall give written information of the desertion to such civil authorities as in his opinion may be able to afford assistance towards the capture of the deserter. Such authorities shall thereupon take steps for the apprehension of the said deserter in like manner as if he were a person for whose apprehension a warrant had been issued by a magistrate, and shall deliver the deserter, when apprehended, into military custody. (2) It shall be lawful for any police officer to arrest without warrant any person whom he reasonably believes to be subject to this Act, and to be a deserter or absentee without leave, and to bring him without delay before the nearest magistrate, to be dealt with according to law.